Seal press



C. PRIESMEYER April 13, 1965 SEAL PRESS Original Filed March '7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l m w m m Hal E8112 76.3

April 13, 1965 Original Filed March 7,1960

C. PRIESMEYER SEAL PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. UharZeb" Prieflm 6962" United States Patent 3,177,801 SEAL PRESS Charles Priesmeyer, Park Ridge, 11]., assignor to Meyer & Wenthe, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Continuation of application Ser. N 0. 13,106, Mar. 7, 1960. This application May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 287,738 Claims. (Cl. 101-3) The present invention pertains to a seal press and more particularly to a die support and frame assembly for seal presses of the kind used by corporations, government agencies, notaries public and professional people. The present application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 13,106, filed March 7, 1960, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, now Patent No. 2,998,766, issued September 5, 1961.

The seal press described and claimed in the aforesaid co-pending application is useful not only in offices where a number of paper embossing seals are kept, but also in seal selling and servicting shops by virtue of readily utilizing any one of a number of die units of different sizes and shapes. Several dies may be stored in small spaces for safe keeping and operated interchangeably in a single press frame. In supply shops, it is only necessary to inventory a single frame model; a wide range of seal presses having different dies can be supplied or interchanged quite readily. This can be done also in the field without need for returning any parts to the factory, the use of precision instruments to provide proper die orientation and location of points of pressure application being obviated.

The present invention has to do more particularly with the die support itself and finds utility in a large variety of seal press frames, although it is herein described in connection with the seal press frame of the aforesaid co-pending application in order to illustrate incorporation of the widest degree of flexibility and utility and also as constituting a further improvement upon that previously disclosed. In varied ofiice use it is necessary to impress seals in many different locations on sheets of paper and the like. In different instances the location desired for the seal requires emplacing the dies over a document from as many different directions as there are margins. That is, in some cases it is desired to impress the seal near the lower margin of a sheet of paper. However, in other cases the seal is to be located remotely from the lower margin. Most seal presses, particularly the hand operated, portable variety, have the dies oriented to present an upright impression only when inserted over a particular marginal edge of such a document.

Moreover, the size of the press frame usually limits to a rather short distance the spacing of the impression from the marginal edge. Yet, it is often found desirable or necessary to place the seal at some portion of the document other than near the lower marginal edge thereof. The inability to accomplish the latter constitutes a limitation on utility of such apparatus.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a seal press and die support which overcomes the aforenoted disadvantages and shortcomings of prior seal presses.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a seal press and die support which permits impressing a seal upon a document or the like from any of a plurality of marginal edges of the document and yet with the seal having a selected orientation with respect to the document regardless over which of the marginal edges the seal press is placed.

It is another object of the present invention to proyide a seal press and die support of the foregoing char- 3,l77,8lll Patented Apr. 13, 1965 acter which is durable and rugged and yet which can be simply and economically manufactured.

A seal press constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a press frame together with a lever handle pivotally mounted on that frame. Upper and lower die supports are mounted on the frame and are movable toward one another upon depression of the lever handle. A first die unit is movably mounted on the upper support to rotate about an axis normal to its die face, and a second die unit is movably mounted on the lower support also to rotate about an axis normal to its die face.

The features of the invention which are believed to be new are set forth with with particularity in the appended claims. The invention together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood, however, by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a series of documents on which a seal has been impressed by a seal press of the invention, the impressions appearing at various different places on the documents;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seal press constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view illustrating assembly of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the die carrier forming a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the die carrier shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but of an alternative form of the die carrier:

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another die carrier assembly alternative to that shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the die carrier assembly shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 14-14- in FIG. 12.

Generally considered, the seal press incorporating the invention as herein disclosed for purposes of illustration includes a unitary assembly for the upper and lower dies with the supporting elements including a spring disposed to normally separate the dies. The unitary assembly is readily installed in a throated'two-sided press frame having a handle or lever carrying a roller operable to close the dies and apply embossing pressure thereon. The upper die has thereon a saddle memberengaging the roller in latching relationship when disposed between the side frames. Except for the latching interlock between the saddle and the roller, the unitary assembly is free to move in the press frame and rest in supported relation on the bottom side of the throat opposite to the roller so that a single frame can receive any one of a number of dies of various sizesin proper working position interchangeably as located solely by the latching relationship. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, frame 10 is a flat stamping die formed in U-shaped cross-section to present parallel side walls 11. The external convex surface of the rounded portion of the U-section constitutes a handle 12 and its rear end 13 is preferably drawn downwardly in order to stress the stamping in more directions than one and thereby render it more rugged and easy to handle.

At the front end of frame 10, side walls 11 include notches 14 forming the frame into an overhanging arm 15 and a lower arm 16 whose facing edges 17 and 18, respectively, and particularly edge 18, are smooth and straight over a major portion of their length. The two 7 a side portions of overhanging arm are secured together by a spacer rivet which rigidifies and maintains the sides in exact spaced relationship.

A'handle 21 is pivotally mounted on rivet 26 and to move between side walls 11. Handle 21 is also a heavy '29. Roller 25 preferably is located slightly to the rear of rivet 26 and above the level thereof when in resting position so that downward movement of handle 21 drives the roller arcuately downward with its principal component of motion being vertical; to this end, the lowermost extremity of the roller remains at all times generally above the level of edge 17.

A unitary die assembly 30 is received between roller 25 and edge 18. Die assembly 30 includes a lower die support 31 and an upper die support 33. The lower die support 31 is stamped from heavy stock to have an inner end portion 32 with parallel sides and preferably bent as at 33 and the. upper die support 38 is a substantially fiat blade spring. The front end portion of die support 31 is planar and shaped to receive and support a lower die unit 36 and is oriented to rest upon edges 18 when in place and the front end portion of the upper die support is planar and shaped to receive and support an upper die unit 41.

The rear end portions of the die supports are secured together by rivets 37. Projecting upwardly from the "front end portion of spring blade 38 is a shank 40 the lower end of which supports an upper die unit 41 in proper orientation over lower die unit 36. At its uppermost end, shank 40 is notched to provide a saddle 43 having its front shoulder 44 preferably higher than its rear shoulder 45. Saddle 43 extends transversely with respect to spring 38 and is of a size to receive roller 25 therein with a rolling engagement between the edges of shoulders 44 and 45.

With assembly 30 in place within frame 10, the edges of shoulders 44 and 45 limit inward and outward movement of the assembly with respect to the roller while engaged therewith. Such engagement is maintained under working conditions by the set in spring 38 which urges shank 4i) upwardly toward roller 25.

Spring 38 and the inner or rear end portion 32 of lower die support 31 are of a width slightly less than the distance between side walls 11. Shank 40 is of a height suflicient to extend above edges 17 and is guided by virtue of side walls11 to maintain co-operative engagement with roller 25 throughout movement of the latter. When die assembly 30 is in working position, bottom die support 31 rests upon edges 18. Spring 38 co-operates with side walls 11 to maintain lateral orientation in the seal press frame. To assemble the die assembly 30 within frame 10, the forward ends of die units 36 and 41 are finger pressed toward each other, and assembly 30 is slipped longitudinally into notch 14 and between side walls 11. Handle 21 is free to move and permit insertion of assembly 30. Upon release of the finger pressure, saddle 43 engages roller 25 and forces the handle 21 into an upward, rest position.

Removal of unitary assembly 30 is easily accomplished by again pressing the externally presented die unit surfaces together and withdrawing the entire assembly outwardly. Roller 25 has sufficient idling motion to permit it to clear the edge of the rear shoulder 45 with the handle in an open position.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 for a more detailed illusd tration of the improvement, die unit 41 includes a die receiving cup 50 in which upper die 51 is pressed. The lower end or shaft portion 52 of shank 40 is of reduced cross-section and is snugly received within openings 53 and 54 centrally disposed respectively in the forward end portion of spring 38 and in cup 50. The lower extremity 52 of the shank 40 is peened over to provide a bearing surface about which cup 50, and hence die unit 41, is rotatable about the axis defined by shank 40. On the other hand, opening 53 is press-fit over shank 52 as the result of which shank 40 is rigidly secured to spring 38.

Forward portion 55 of the spring 38 is enlarged laterally to form a plate 57, FIG. 7, having an external con tour defining a pair of oppositely spaced shoulders 58'. Projecting upwardly from and secured to cup 50 is a stop so disposed to move in a circular path encountering shoulder 58. Thus, upon rotation of die unit 41 about the axis defined by shank 40, shoulders 58 define limit positions of die movement.

Lower die unit 36 includes the die support 31 to which is secured a lower die 39. Centrally disposed in the support 31 and the enlarged front end portion 62 of the lower die support 31 are respective openings 63 and 64. A shaft 65 is received slidably through opening 64 but tightly within opening 63, the innermost end portion of shaft 65 being peened over against an inner counter bore of opening 63 to rigidly secure the shaft to lower die unit 36. Shaft 65 thus defines an axis about which the lower die is rotatable.

Pressing against the inner surface of an enlarged head 65 on the lower end of shaft 65 is one end of a leaf spring 67, the other end of which is secured by a rivet 68 to the underside of lower die support 31. Spring 67 urges the back side 69 of lower die unit 36 against die support 31.

Projecting upwardly from die support 31 are a plurality of detent raised areas 70. Corresponding relieved areas as by holes 71 are formed in plate 42 on the back side of lower die 39 facing the surface of lower die support 31 and bearing raised areas 70. Upon rotation of lower die unit 36, holes 71 move in a circular path successively encountering raised areas 7 6. Thus, the walls of holes 71 constitute stops successively detentingly engageable with shoulders defined by raised areas 70 upon coincident positioning thereof. a

As illustrated, upper die 51 includes on its die face a series of depressed characters 73. Mateable therewith on the upwardly facing die face of lower die 39 are a corresponding series of raised die characters 74. In order to insure proper mating relationship of die characters 73 and 74, assembly 30 includes indicating means individually fixedly coupled to the dies and together depicting relative rotational position therebetween in determination of such mateability alignment. To this end, tabs 75 and 76 project laterally from cup 50 and plate 31, respectively; with proper orientation of the die characters, tabs 75 and 76 are aligned one above the other. However, should one die be located to a position improper with respect to the other, an immediate visual indication is afforded to the user by the appearance of tabs projecting more than one way from the assembly.

An alternative indexing detent arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. In this instance, an enlarged forward end portion 55 of the spring blade includes a plurality of vertically disposed openings 78; as embodied, two such openings 78 are employed and are spaced on opposite sides of shank 40. Disposed removably within openings 78 are plungers 79. Plungers 79 are secured in the oppositely facing outer end portions of a leaf spring 89 having an enlarged inner portion 81 rigidly secured aboutlower end portion 52 of shank 4i leaf spring being in a position immediately overlying spring blade 38.

Leaf spring 80 urges plungers 79 downwardly within openings 78 toward the upper die unit 41'. A plurality of relieved areas 83 are formed in the upper surface of cup 50 at a distance from the axis defined by end portion 52 the same as the spacing of holes 78. Upon rotation of upper die unit 41', relieved areas 83 move in a circular path and successively encounter plungers 79. Thus, plungers 79 constitute stops and relieved areas 83 constitute shoulders indentingly engageable with the stops upon rotation of the upper die unit.

Still another alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14. In this instance, die 51' is circular instead of rectangular as is die 51 illustrated in the previous figures. Although not illustrated, a corresponding circular lower die completes the die assembly. With circular die 51, die receiving cup 50' preferably is formed to include an annular spring flange 85 having cut-outs defining spring fingers 86. Fingers 86 are shaped and sprung inwardly slightly in order to move outwardly upon insertion of die 51' and to thereafter grippingly support the latter. The slots defined by the cut-outs also serve to alert the user that flange 85 is a spring retainer and he is to be guided thereby.

In the same manner as explained above with respect to FIGS. and 11, receiving cup 50' includes relieved areas 83 in its upper surface. Areas 83 co-act with a plunger 79 urged by a spring 80', fixed to shank 4t), downwardly through openings 78 and spring blade 38. In this instance relieved areas 83 are four in number and are disposed in a circular path circumferentially around the axis defined by shank 40. Accordingly, upper die unit 41' upon rotation may be disposed in any of four selected rotational positions and in each it is indentingly engaged by co-action between plungers 79 and relieved areas 83.

The use of all of the embodiments is vividly indicated upon reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. There depicted is the impression of a seal in a number of different locations upon a substrate material such as a document paper.

tation. FIG. 4 illustrates versatile placement of the seal in positions for such purposes as addressing envelopes.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Accordingly, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as follow in the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A seal press comprising a frame having spaced side members notched out to provide a lower arm having upwardly facing parallel edges and an upper arm overhanging said edges, a lever handle pivotally mounted on the upper arm, a unitary die assembly received in said notch including a lower die support resting on said edges, an upper die support, said die supports having planar surface portions, means received between said side members supporting said die supports in cooperating relationship and including a spring urging the upper die support into engagement with said handle in guiding relationship, said die supports having holes in their planar portions and being movable toward one another by depression of the lever handle into parallel relationship in which said holes are in relative axial alignment, a die receiving member on the lower die support and substantially coextensive therewith marginally, means for securing said die receiving member to said lower die support in a plurality of relative positions including a shaft carried by said die receiving member and mounted in the hole on said lower die support for relative rotation and axial movement therein and a set of angularly spaced pairs of axially interengaging detent members carried by said lower die support and die receiving member respectively for positioning same in a plurality of relative rotationally attained positions, said shaft having a head thereon spaced from said lower die support and disposed between said parallel edges, spring means received between said parallel edges interengaging said head and the lower die support to permit limited relative axial movement of said die receiving member with respect to the lower die support for disengagement of said detent members and rotation and to urge said detent members into interengagement when rotatively brought into registration and said die receiving member into pressure bearing faceto-face contact with the lower die support, a die member secured to and movable with said die receiving member as a unit, a die receiving cup rotatable in the hole on the upper die support, a set of spring actuated pairs of detent members interconnecting said cup and upper die support and angularly spaced identically with the first mentioned pairs of detents, another die member mating with the first mentioned die member and received in said cup in an axial direction in supported relationship with pairs of both sets of detent members in axial interengagement.

2. A seal press comprising a frame having spaced side members notched out to provide a lower arm having upwardly facing parallel edges and an upper arm overhanging said edges, a lever handle pivotally mounted on the upper arm and having a roller thereon, a unitary die assembly received in said notch including a lower die support and an upper die support both having planar surface portions having holes therethrough, said lower die support resting on said edges and having an inner end portion received in guided relation between said side members, said upper die support having a shank thereon engageable by said roller in rolling contact therewith, and having a lower end shaft portion of reduced diameter extending through and beyond said hole in the upper die support, means supporting the upper die support in co-operating relationship with the lower die support including a spring portion of the upper die support secured to said elongated element for urging the said shank into engagement with said roller in guiding relationship, said die supports being movable by depression of the lever handle toward one another into parallel relationship in which said holes are in relative axial alignment, a die receiving member on the lower die support, means for securing said die receiving member to said lower die support in a plurality of selectable positions including a shaft carried by said die receiving member and mounted in the hole on said lower die support for relative rotation and axial movement therein and a set of angularly spaced pairs of axially interengaging detent members carried by said lower die support and die receiving member respectively for positioning same in a plurality of relative rotationally attained positions, said shaft having a head thereon spaced from said lower die support anddisposed between said parallel edges, leaf spring means carried by the lower die support and received between said parallel edges and having an end engaging said head to permit limited relative axial movement of said die receiving member with respect to the lower die support for disengagement of said pairs of detent members and rotation, said leaf spring urging said pairs of detent members into interengagement when rotatively brought into registration and said die receiving member into pressure bearing face-to-face contact with the lower die support, a die member secured to and movable with said die receiving member as a unit, a die receiving cup journalled on said shaft portion of the shank extending through the hole on the upper die support, another set of axially interengaging pairs of detent members including detent elements slidably received through said upper die support to engage reliefs in said cup and spring means anchored between said shouldered shank and the upper die support urging said detent members into engagement with said reliefs, said other pairs of detents being angularly spaced identically with the first mentioned pairs of detent members, another die lel sides defining parallel edges along one side of the notch and a lever handle pivotally mounted on said press frame between the parallel sides 'on the other side of the notch, an embossing assembly received in said notch comprising an upper die holder including a cup having segmented side wall flanges; a first spring means having one end engaging said lever handle and including an element journalling the upper die holder to said one end; a support member; one end of said support member having an enlarged planar surface resting on said parallel edges and having a plurality of raised areas spaced circularly on the upper surface thereof, a lower die holder movably mounted on said enlarged surface of the support member for relative axial movement and to rotate about an axis normal to said surface and having relieved areas on its back side facing said surface and movable upon rotation thereof in a path successively registering with said raised areas; second spring means located between said parallel edges urging said lower die holder against said surface of the support member and urging engagement between said relieved and raised areas upon coincident registration thereof; means to sea cure the other end of said first spring means to the other end of said support member, said upper die holder being urged away from the lower die holder by said first spring means and directed towards the lower die holder upon depression of said lever handle; said die holders being rotatable about a common axis when said lever handle is depressed; means for limiting rotation of the upper die holder between positions determined by said raised areas; a first die member pressed into and grippingly supported by said segmented side wall flanges; a second die member; means for securing said second die member to said lower die holder; one of said die members having raised characters and the other having mateable depressed characters; and independently movable indexing means on said die holders to determine the position of said characters c'onjointly relative to a vertical plane passing centrally between said parallel edges.

4. A seal press comprising: a press frame defining two parallel support edges; a lever handle pivotally mounted on said frame above said parallel edges; upper and lower die supports mounted on said frame between said parallel edges and the lever handle, said die supports being open all the way around and movable toward one another upon depression of said lever handle; a first die unit releasably supporting a flat die and movably mounted on said upper support to rotate the die about an axis normal to the face of the die; a second die unit permanently supporting a counter die mating with the first die and rotatable on said lower support for relative axial movement and rotation about an axis normal to the face thereof and coincident with the first mentioned axis when said lever handle is depressed; one of said die units having raised characters and the other having mateable depressed characters; spring means carried by said lower die support and disposed between said parallel edges for urging said second die unit against said lower die support; and a pair of tabs individually projecting laterally from said die units and together depicting relative rotational position between said dies in determination of mateability alignment of said raised and depressed characters.

5. A seal press comprising a frame having spaced side members notched out to provide a lower arm having upwardly facing parallel edges and an upper arm overhanging said edges, a lever handle pivotally mounted on the upper arm, a unitary die assembly received in said notch including a lower die support resting on said edges, an upper die support, said die supports having planar surface portions, means received between sa d side members'supporting said die supports in co-operating relationship and including a spring urging the upper die support into engagement with said handle in guiding relationship, said die supports having holes in their planar portions and being movable toward one another by depression of the lever handle into parallel relationship in which said holes are in relative axial alignment, a die receiving member on the lower die support, means for securing said die receiving member to said lower die support in a plurality of relative positions including a shaft mounted in the hole on said lower die support for relative rotation and axial movement therein, detent members carried by said lower die support and die receiving member respectively for positioning same in a plurality of relative rotationally attained positions, spring means received between said parallel edges interengaging said head and the lower die support to permit limited relative axial movement of said die receiving member with respect to the lower die support for disengagement of said detent members and rotation and to urge said detent members into interengagement when rotatively brought into registration and said die receiving member in pressure bearing face-to-face contact with the lower die support, a die member secured to and movable with said die receiving member as a unit, a die receiving cup journalled in the hole on the upper die support, a set of spring actuated pairs of detent members interconnecting said cup and upper die support and angularly spaced identically with the first mentioned pairs of detents, another die member mating with the first mentioned die member, said die receiving cup having cut out flange elements defining spring fingers sprung inwardly slightly to receive said other die member in a plurality of different relative orientations with pairs of both sets of detent members in axial interengagement, said die receiving member and die receiving cup being rotatable inde pendently of each' other and together as a unit to provide mating registration between said dies in a plurality of different positions of orientation relative to the press frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Wagner 10l26 X ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SEAL PRESS COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING SPACED SIDE MEMBERS NOTCHED OUT TO PROVIDE A LOWER ARM HAVING UPWARDLY FACING PARALLEL EDGES AND AN UPPER ARM OVERHANGING SAID EDGES, A LEVER HANDLE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER ARM, A UNITARY DIE ASSEMBLY RECEIVED IN SAID NOTCH INCLUDING A LOWER DIE SUPPORT RESTING ON SAID EDGES, AN UPPER DIE SUPPORT, SAID DIE SUPPORTS HAVING PLANAR SURFACE PORTIONS, MEANS RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS SUPPORTING SAID DIE SUPPORTS IN COOPERATING RELATIONSHIP AND INCLUDING A SPRING URGING THE UPPER DIE SUPPORT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HANDLE IN GUIDING RELATIONSHIP, SAID DIE SUPPORTS HAVING HOLES IN THEIR PLANAR PORTIONS AND BEING MOVABLE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER BY DEPRESSION OF THE LEVER HANDLE INTO PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH SAID HOLES ARE IN RELATIVE AXIAL ALIGNMENT, A DIE RECEIVING MEMBER ON THE LOWER DIE SUPPORT AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH MARGINALLY, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID DIE RECEIVING MEMBER TO SAID LOWER DIE SUPPORT IN A PLURALITY OF RELATIVE POSITIONS INCLUDING A SHAT CARRIED BY SAID DIE RECEIVING MEMBER AND MOUNTED IN THE HOLE ON SAID LOWER DIE SUPPORT FOR RELATIVE ROTATION AND AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREIN AND A SET OF ANGULARLY SPACED PAIRS OF AXIALLY INTERENGAGING DETENT MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID LOWER DIE SUPPORT AND DIE RECEIVING MEMBER RESPEC- 